Handy type atomizer

ABSTRACT

A switch 70 is provided between the gripping casing of an atomizer and the cover thereof. Said switch 70 has a switch accommodating section 72 secured at the cover member 16, a switch operating section 74 protruding on the inner circumferential face of said cover, and a switch body 76 accommodated in said switch accommodating section 72. Said switch accommodating section 72 is formed to be square-tubular with both the ends thereof open, said switch operating section 74 is provided at the switch accommodating section 72 corresponding to the position thereof, and a waterproof cover 78 which is able to cover the outer circumference of the switch accommodating section 72 is provided at the lower end of the switch operating section 74. Said switch body 76 has a constantly open type switch mechanism 76a having a pair of contacts spaced from each other in a constant state, a rod 76b interlocked with the switch mechanism 76a and a spring 76c which presses the rod 76b upward. Said switch 70 operates when the cover is attached to the gripping casing, whereby power supply to the atomizing means and the feeding means will be enabled.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a handy type atomizer and in particularrelates to a technology for improving the safety thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An atomizer has been already known as an instrument used for treatingthe nose and throat, and this kind of an atomizer is, for example,utilized for treating primary catarrh, allergic rhinitis, etc. Anatomizer used for such a therapy is such that heat or vibration is givento liquefied medicine in order to atomize the same and a patient iscaused to inhale the same. A handy type and an installation type areavailable on the market.

Furthermore, various kinds of handy type atomizers are proposed in viewof their portability, for example, several structural examples aredisclosed in Japanese laid-open utility model publications Nos. 51541 of1983, 109545 of 1986, 75750 of 1990, etc. An atomizer disclosed inJapanese laid-open utility model publication No. 51541 of 1983 isprovided with a cylindrical casing in which an atomizer is incorporated,and the casing is such that the cross-section thereof connects asmall-diametered semicircle with a large-diametered semicircle and ismade cylindrical, and a nozzle which is able to discharge atomizedmedicine is provided in a fixed state at the small-diametered semicircleat the upper side of the casing.

With an atomizer having such a structure, when using the same, thelarge-diametered semicircle section of the casing is gripped by a handand the nozzle secured at the small-diametered semicircle is caused toface the nose or throat. Furthermore, an atomizer disclosed by Japaneselaid-open utility model publication No. 109545 of 1986 is provided witha casing formed to be roughly box-like, in which an atomizer isincorporated, and the width of the casing is made tapered from the rearend thereof toward the front end side, and a nozzle which is able todischarge atomized medicine is provided in a fixed state at the frontend side.

With the atomizer having such a structure, when using the same, the rearend side is gripped by a hand and the nozzle at the front end side,which is made tapered, is caused to face the nose or throat.Furthermore, an atomizer disclosed by Japanese laid-open utility modelpublication No. 75750 of 1990 is provided with a cylindrical casing inwhich an atomizing means is incorporated, and a nozzle which is able todischarge atomized medicine is fixed at the upper side of the casing.

With an atomizer having such a structure, when using the same, thecylindrical casing is gripped by a hand and is caused to face the noseor throat. However, in such conventional atomizers, there still remaintechnical themes to be described below. That is, in the abovementionedutility model publications, since the nozzle is fixed in both of them,the atomizers are used while gripping the large-diametered semicirclesection, the rear end section of the casing, or the cylindrical casing.

However, this kind of atomizer is used by not only an adult but also achild. With such a structure of an atomizer disclosed in theabovementioned publications, if the large-diametered semicircle sidesection, the rear end portion of the casing or a gripping sectionconsisting of a cylindrical casing is set to a size suitable for anadult, the same is too large for use by a child, and it is difficult fora child to grip. To the contrary, if the gripping section is set to asize suitable for a child, the size is not suitable for an adult, and itis difficult for an adult to use. Therefore, there is some parts thereofto be further improved for the convenience of use.

Therefore, the inventors developed a handy type atomizer which is ableto solve these problems and already proposed the same with Japaneseutility model application No. 54055 of 1991. With the atomizer accordingto this application, a gripping casing in which an atomizer isincorporated has a roughly gourd-shaped cross-section in which thesmall-diametered cylindrical portion is connected to thelarge-diametered cylindrical portion at the side, and a nozzle which isable to discharge atomized medicine is provided at the upper end side ofthe casing so that the discharge direction of the atomized medicine canbe changed, whereby an adult patient is able to grip thelarge-diametered cylindrical portion thereof and a child patient is ableto grip the small-diametered cylindrical portion thereof. Therefore, theconvenience of using an atomizer is able to be much improved. However,it is found through a further consideration that another technicaltheme, which is described below, internally exists in the atomizeraccording to this application.

That is, with an atomizer according to the abovementioned application,since it is necessary to set liquefied medicine in a medicine disksecured in a gripping casing, there was a shortcoming that although thecover is detachably mounted in the casing, for example, in a case wherethe power source is erroneously switched on with the cover notcompletely attached in the casing when using the atomizer or the coveris erroneously removed from the casing during use, atomized medicine issplashed outside other than through the nozzle.

The present invention was developed in view of such shortcomings, and itis therefore an object of the invention to provide a handy type atomizerwhich is able to prevent atomized medicine from being splashed outsideand is able to much increase the safety.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the above object, the invention provides a handytype atomizer having a medicine atomizing means, a nozzle fordischarging atomized medicine outside, and a feeding means for sendingmedicine atomized by said atomizing means toward said nozzle side, whichcomprises a cylindrical gripping casing in which said atomizing means isincorporated, and a cover which is detachably mounted on the upper endof said gripping casing and has an attaching port of said nozzle,wherein a switch which is able to operate only when said cover isattached to said gripping casing and supply power to said atomizingmeans and feeding means is provided.

According to a handy type atomizer constructed as described above, sincea switch is provided, which is able to operate only when said cover isattached to said gripping casing and supply power to said atomizingmeans and feeding means, the switch is not turned on in a case where thecover is removed from the casing or is not completely positioned in acorrect position, and no power is supplied to said atomizing means andfeeding means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a disassembled perspective view showing a preferred embodimentof a handy type atomizer according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view showing an atomizer of FIG. 1assembled with its cap removed.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinally sectional view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of major parts of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of control circuits of an atomizer shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of major parts showing anotherpreferred embodiment of an atomizer according to the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail withreference to the drawings attached herewith. FIG. 1 through FIG. 5 showa preferred embodiment of a handy type atomizer according to theinvention. An atomizer shown in these drawings has a medicine atomizingmeans 10, a nozzle 12 capable of discharging liquefied medicine atomizedby said atomizing means 10, and a gripping casing 14. Said casing 14 hasa small-diametered cylindrical portion 14a, a large-diameteredcylindrical portion 14b and a bottom portion 14c and is formed so as tohave a bottom. The casing 14 has a roughly gourd-shaped cross-sectionwhere said small-diametered cylindrical portion 14a is connected to saidlarge-diametered cylindrical portion 14b at the side thereof.

Said atomizing means 10 is incorporated in the large-diameteredcylindrical portion 14b side of the casing 10 and has a piezoelectricvibrator 10a and vibration liquid 10b. Said piezoelectric vibrator 10ais fixed at the lower end of a hollow cylindrical body 18 supported on acover member 16 which closes the open end of the casing 10, so that thesame is able to close the lower end of said hollow cylindrical body 18via a protection sheet 19 and an attaching plate 20. Said vibrationliquid 10b is, for example, distilled water, which is brought intocontact with said protection sheet 19 secured on the upper surface ofsaid piezoelectric vibrator 10a and is sealed in said cylindrical body18 by adhering a film-shaped sheet 22 at the intermediate position ofsaid hollow cylindrical body 18.

Said hollow cylindrical member 18 is fixed at one end side (thelarge-diametered cylindrical side 145b side of the casing 10) of saidcover member 16 formed to be roughly gourd-shaped, so that the upper endthereof protrudes upward, and a through-hole 24 is formed at the otherend side (the small-diametered cylindrical portion 14a side of thecasing 10) of the cover member 16. A rotating axis of a motor 24 isinserted from below into said through-hole 24, and an impeller 28 isfitted from above to the inserted rotating axis.

Said motor 26 and impeller 28 have a smaller diameter than the innerdiameter of the small-diametered cylindrical portion 14a of the casing14, which constitute a feeding means for creating an air flow forsending atomized medicine toward to the nozzle 12 side. Power issupplied to the motor 24 through a control circuit mounted on asubstrate 31.

A medicine disk 32 which accommodates liquefied medicine is fitted tothe inner side of the portion where the hollow cylindrical body 18protrudes above of the cover member 16. The medicine disk 32 of thispreferred embodiment has a bottom face inclined downward as the detailthereof is shown in FIG. 3, and a gelled substrate 34 intervenes betweenthe bottom and the film-like sheet 22. This gelled substance 34 is forincreasing the atomization efficiency of liquefied medicine by improvingthe transmission state of vibrations and is composed of a polymer, adampening agent, water, a preserving agent, a surface-active agent, etc.

On the other hand, one large-diametered through-hole 14d is formed atthe front side of the gripping casing 14 and two small-diameteredthrough-holes 14e are formed at the upper part thereof. Furthermore, acircular through-hole 14f is formed at the lower end of the side of thesmall-diametered cylindrical portion 14a of the casing 14. An operationswitch 38 supported at a substrate 36 which is inserted into the rearside of the large-diametered through-hole 14d is inserted into thelarge-diametered through-hole 14d, and a switch cover 40 is attached tothe inserted operation switch.

An indication lamp 41 supported at the substrate 36 is disposed at therear side of the small-diametered through hole 14e, and said indicationlamp 40 is concretely composed of two light emitting diodes, wherein thetwo light emitting diodes are provided so that they face thesmall-diametered through-hole 14e via a cover 42. Furthermore, one ofthe two light emitting diodes blinks corresponding to turning on and offof the operation switch 38 and the other of them is lit when it becomesnecessary for a secondary battery to be charged.

A connector 44 is attached to the rear side of the circular through-hole14f, and an adapter 88 connected to a commercial power source isinserted into this connector 44. With the above construction, theoperation switch 38 is disposed at the portion where thesmall-diametered cylindrical portion 14a of the casing 14 is connectedto the large-diametered cylindrical portion 14b thereof, and theindication lamp 41 is provided in the vicinity of this operation switch38.

The cover member 16 is fitted to and fixed at the upper opening end ofthe casing 14 so that a part of the upper side thereof protrudestherefrom, and a transparent cover 46 is detachably attached from aboveto the protruded portion. The cover 46 is composed of a transparent bodyof which the lower end is open, and the cross-section of the cover 46 isformed to be gourd-shaped equivalently to the shape of the casing 14.Furthermore, the cover 46 has a small-diametered circumferential wall46a and a large-diametered circumferential wall 46b respectively havingdiameters corresponding to that of the small- and large-diameteredcylindrical portions 14a and 14b, and a ceiling part 46c.

A circular through-hole 46d which passes through the ceiling part 46c isprovided at the ceiling part 46 on the center of the large-diameteredcircumferential wall 46b, and at the same time, a nozzle attaching port46e protruding upward is provided at the surrounding of the circularthrough-hole 46d. Furthermore, an annular protrusion 46f protrudingdownward is provided outside the nozzle attaching portion 46e.

Furthermore, a roughly semi-circular opening part 46g is formed to beopen at the upper side of the small-diametered circumferential wall 46a,a circular ledge 46h linked to the inner face of the small-diameteredcircumferential wall 46a is formed at the lower end innercircumferential side of said opening part 46g. And a circularthrough-hole 46i is formed and is caused to pass through the center ofsaid ledge 46h, and a plurality of slits 46j are provided at the outercircumference of said circular through-hole 46i. At the deep side of theledge 46h, an arcuate wall 46k of which the upper end is linked to theceiling part 46c is formed. Furthermore, a small-diametered through-hole46l is formed at the ceiling part 46c corresponding to the center of thecircular through-hole 46i. On the other hand, a rectifying member 48 ofatomized medicine is attached from above to the hollow cylindricalmember 18. Said rectifying member 48 is composed of a flange part 48aattached to the upper end side of the hollow cylindrical member 18, aguide cylindrical part 48b integrally formed at the inner circumferenceof this flange part 48a with both the ends, the upper end side of whichis fitted to and fixed at the annular protrusion 46f, a dome portion 48csupported at the inner circumferential side of said guide cylindricalpart 48b, and a pair of slits secured at the position opposite saidguide cylindrical part 48c.

In this preferred embodiment, said dome portion 48c is constructed of asemi-spherically formed large spherical portion 481c and a smallspherical portion 482c formed at the upper end of said large sphericalportion 481c. The large spherical portion 481c is disposed on the centeraxis of said guide cylindrical part 48b and is formed with the diameterby which the outer circumference thereof is spaced from the innercircumferential face of the guide cylindrical part 48b. Two points ofthe large spherical portion 481c opposite each other are supported by apair of stays 48e extending in the tangential direction, whereat a slithole 48d is provided.

Furthermore, a pair of wall parts 48f located forward of the slits 48dare oriented in the diametrical direction of the large-spherical portion481c and are provided between the large-spherical portion 481c and theguide cylindrical portion 48b. With the rectifying member 48 constructedas shown above, the medicine atomized from the medicine disk 32 iscaused to move upward and is brought into collision with the domeportion 48c, and the liquefied medicine brought into collision with thespherical inner surface of the dome portion 48c is thereafter reflectedtoward the center of the dome portion 48c and is mixed with the atomizedmedicine which is gradually caused to go up, in the dome portion 48c.Thereafter, the mixed medicine is sent out to the nozzle 12 sidetogether with an air flow introduced via the slits 48d and created bythe impeller 28 between the inner circumferential face of the guidecylindrical portion 48b and the outer circumferential portion of thedome 48c so as to bypass at the lower end of the dome portion 48c.

On the other hand, an air flow regulating member 50 is attached in theopening portion 46g. Said air flow regulating member 50 is formed to becap-like. A filter 52 is disposed on the inner circumferential face ofthe circumferential wall 50a thereof, and at the same time, a hole 50bextending in the circumferential direction and a slide grip 50c areprovided at the circumferential wall 50a, and at the same time, asmall-diametered protrusion 50d protruding upward is provided at thecenter of the ceiling part. This air flow regulating member 50 ispositioned and mounted by the small-diametered protrusion 50d into thesmall-diametered through-hole 461 of the cover 46, and by causing theair flow regulating member 50c to move in the circumferential directionwith said slide grip 50c, the hole 50b changes the length of a portionwhich is exposed to the opening portion 46g, whereby the air flowcreated by the impeller 28 is regulated.

The nozzle 12 is constructed of a transparent rubber-based member inthis preferred embodiment, and is mounted by placing the base partthereof at the nozzle attaching port 46e of the cover 46. At this time,it is possible to optionally change the discharging direction of theatomized medicine by changing the fitting state of the base part.Furthermore, in the case of this preferred embodiment, since the nozzle12 is made of a soft rubber based member, it is possible to change thedischarging direction by turning the nozzle 12 in a state where the sameis fitted to the nozzle attaching port 46e.

A notched section 46m which is able to be fitted to the cap 54 attachedfrom above the the cover 46 is formed at the outer circumferential edgeof the ceiling part 46c of the cover 46. The cap 54 has acircumferential wall part 54a having the same cross-section as that ofthe casing 14 and a ceiling part 54b. A concave portion 54c which isable to be fitted with the gourd-shaped convex part 14g secured at thelower end side of the casing 14 is formed at the outer circumferentialedge of the ceiling part 54b.

A switch 70 is provided between the grip casing 14 and the cover 46.Said switch 70 is composed of a switch accommodating section 72 securedat the box member 16 which closes the upper end opening of the gripcasing 14, a switch operating section 74 provided to protrude at theinner circumferential face of the cover 46, and a switch body 76accommodated in the switch accommodating section 72.

Said switch accommodating section 72 is disposed in the vicinity of theconnection part at which the small-diametered cylindrical portion 14a ofthe grip casing 14 is linked with the large-diametered cylindricalportion 14b thereof and is formed to be square-tubular with both theends thereof open. Said switch operating section 74 is provided at theswitch accommodating section 72 corresponding to the position thereof,wherein a waterproof cover 78 which covers the outer circumference ofthe switch accommodating section 72 is provided at the lower end of theswitch operating section 74. Said switch body 76 consists of a switchmechanism 76a having a pair of always open contacts spaced from eachother in a constant state, a rod 76b interlocked with said switchmechanism 76a, and a spring 76c which always presses the rod 76b upward.

With the switch 70 constructed as described above, if the rod 76b ispressed down against the pressing force of the spring 76c by using theswitch operating section 74, the contact of the switch mechanism 76a iselectrically connected. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control circuitincorporated in the substrate 31 of the abovementioned atomizer. Thecontrol circuit shown in the same drawing consists of a switch 70connected in series to the connector 44, a constant voltage circuit 80,a fan motor drive circuit 82, a boosting circuit 84, and a voltagemonitoring circuit 85 which are connected in parallel to the switch 70,and a switch control circuit connected to the output side of theconstant voltage circuit 80 via the operating switch 38.

A motor 26 of the feeding means is connected to the output side of thefan motor circuit 82. The piezoelectric vibrator 10a of the atomizingmeans 10 and a display 41 are connected to the output side of theboosting circuit 84. The display 41 is connected to the output side ofthe voltage monitoring circuit. A monitoring circuit 87 by which theoperation time of the atomizer is set is connected to the switch controlcircuit 86. An appointed direct current is supplied to the connector 44via an AC adapter 88 incorporated in a secondary battery.

Hereupon, with a handy type atomizer constructed as described above, byplacing liquefied medicine in a medicine disk 32 and turning on theoperating switch 38, the vibrations of said piezoelectric vibrator 10bare transmitted to the liquefied medicine via a vibration liquid 10b,whereby the liquefied medicine is atomized, and the atomized medicine isdischarged through the nozzle 12 along with an air flow created by theimpeller 28.

At this time, an atomizer according to the preferred embodiment is ableto operate only when a detachable cover 46 is attached to the grippingcasing 14. Since a switch 70 which supplies power to the motor 26 of theatomizing means 10 and the feeding means is provided, the switch 70enters a non-operating state in a case where the cover 46 is removedfrom the casing 14 or the same is incompletely attached thereto, nopower is supplied to the motor 26 of the atomizing means 10 and thefeeding means.

Accordingly, the atomized medicine is prevented from being dischargedoutside other than through the nozzle 12, and the atomized medicine isprevented from being uselessly consumed, whereby the safety of anatomizer is much increased. FIG. 6 shows another preferred embodiment ofan atomizer according to the invention. Only the features thereof aredescribed below. The drawing shows a switch 70a to be provided between acover 46 detachably attached to the casing 14 and the cover member 16.In this preferred embodiment, an optical type photocoupler in which alight emitting part 90 and a light receiving part 92 are disposedopposite each other is used.

The switch 70a is disposed in the switch accommodating section 72asecured at the cover member 16, and the switch operating section 74asecured at the cover 46 is constructed so that the switch 70a is able tobe operated by interrupting light between the light emitting part 90 andthe light receiving part 92. Furthermore, the switch operating section74a is provided with a waterproof cover 78a which is able to cover theupper end side of the switch accommodating section 72a.

Even by using a switch 70a constructed as described above, the actionsand effects which are identical to those of the preceding preferredembodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, in the above preferredembodiments, such a type which is composed of a piezoelectric vibrator10 and a sealed vibration liquid 10b is illustrated and described as amedicine atomizing means. The invention is not limited to this type. Forexample, a heating means such as a heater may be employed instead.Industrial feasibility

As described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, witha handy type atomizer according to the present invention, it is possibleto prevent the atomized medicine from being uselessly discharged outsideand to increase the safety thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A handy atomizer having a liquefied medicineatomizing means, a nozzle for discharging the atomized medicine outsideand a feeding means for sending out the medicine atomized by saidatomizing means toward said nozzle side,comprising a gripping casing inwhich said atomizing means is incorporated, and a cover detachablyattached to the upper end of said gripping casing and having anattaching part of said nozzle, a first switch for selectively supplyingpower to said atomizing means and said feeding means, and a secondswitch for enabling said first switch to operate only when said cover isattached to said gripping casing.
 2. The handy atomizer of claim 1,wherein said second switch is disposed between said casing and saidcover, and is electrically connected to said first switch.
 3. The handyatomizer of claim 2, wherein said second switch includes a spring-biasedmember which is depressed to close said second switch when said casingand cover are attached.
 4. The handy atomizer of claim 2, wherein saidsecond switch includes a light source adjacent to a photosensitiveelement, and wherein a path between said source and element is brokenwhen said casing and cover are attached to close said second switch.